SB 135 Text

Senate Bill No. 135
(By Senators Hunter, Unger, Foster, Wells, Tomblin, Mr. President, Bowman, Minard, Edgell, Jenkins, Prezioso, Bailey, Plymale, McCabe, Green, Sharpe, Helmick, Oliverio, Deem, Guills, Chafin, Yoder, Fanning,
Love, Kessler, McKenzie, Stollings, Barnes, White and Sypolt)
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[Introduced January 18, 2007; referred to the Committee on Military; and then to the Committee on Finance.]
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A BILL to amend and reenact §18-19-1, §18-19-2 and §18-19-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to providing that, in addition to children, spouses of deceased service personnel are eligible for state-funded student financial aid resources.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §18-19-1, §18-19-2 and §18-19-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:

ARTICLE 19. EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN AND SPOUSES OF DECEASED SOLDIERS, SAILORS, MARINES AND AIRMEN.

§18-19-1. Appropriation to provide educational opportunities.
(a) The purpose of this article is to provide educational opportunities for the children and spouses of those:
(1) Who served in:
(A) The Army, Navy or Marine Corps of the United States during the world war from the sixth day of April, one thousand nine hundred seventeen, to the second day of July, one thousand nine hundred twenty-one, all dates inclusive;
(B) The Armed Forces of the United States of America at any time between the first day of December, one thousand nine hundred forty-one, and the declaration of peace by the Congress of the United States, all dates inclusive;
(C) The Armed Forces of the United States of America at any time between the twenty-seventh day of June, one thousand nine hundred fifty, and the thirty-first day of January, one thousand nine hundred fifty-five, all dates inclusive;
(D) The Armed Forces of the United States of America at any time between the fifth day of August, one thousand nine hundred sixty-four, and the seventh day of May, one thousand nine hundred seventy-five, all dates inclusive; or
(E) The Armed Forces of the United States of America at any time during which the forces or members of the reserve components are called to active duty by the President of the United States under Title 10 of the United States Code for the purpose of entering into armed combat; and
(2) Who were killed in action or have died or may hereafter die from disease or disability resulting from this war service.
(b) For the purpose of this article, there is appropriated from the State Fund, General Revenue the sum of at least five thousand dollars for each fiscal year commencing the first day of July and ending on the thirtieth day of June of each year of the next biennium to be used for the benefit of these children and spouses while attending post-secondary education or training institutions.
(c) This benefit also shall be given to children and spouses of a service member killed during hostile actions as defined by the agency administering this section.
(d) The term "children" as used in this article includes any child of a veteran who has been legitimized by operation of law prior to the veteran's demise.
(e) The term "spouse" as used in this article includes any spouse who remained married to the veteran prior to the veteran's demise and who was neither the plaintiff nor defendant in any active divorce or annulment proceedings against the veteran at the time of the veteran's demise.

§18-19-2. Eligibility of applicant for benefits; application forms; preference.

(a) To be eligible for the benefits of this article, a child or spouse set forth in section one of this article shall be:
(1) At least sixteen and not more than twenty-five years of age in the case of a child, and not more than forty years of age in the case of a spouse;
(2) Enrolled in a post-secondary education or training institution in this state; and
(3) The child or spouse of an enlistee who designated West Virginia as his or her state of record.
(b) The application shall be made to, and upon forms provided by, the West Virginia Division of Veterans' Affairs. The division shall determine the eligibility of those who apply and the yearly amount to be allotted each applicant. The amount, in the discretion of the division, may vary from year to year, but may not exceed the sum of one thousand dollars in any one semester or a total of two thousand dollars in any one year. In selecting those to receive the benefits of this article, preference shall be given those who are otherwise financially unable to secure the educational opportunities.

§18-19-3. No tuition fees to be charged; how funds to be expended; cessation of allowances.

(a) A state post-secondary education or training institution may not charge tuition and fees to an eligible applicant attending that institution pursuant to this article. The funds herein appropriated shall be expended by the West Virginia Division of Veterans' Affairs only for matriculation fees, board, room rent, books, supplies and other necessary living expenses of those children.
(b) In the event that a child or spouse eligible for a tuition waiver pursuant to this section attends a private post-secondary education or training institution where the tuition waiver is not applicable, that child or spouse remains eligible for up to two thousand dollars per year in education benefits pursuant to section two of this article.
(c) In addition to the tuition waiver available pursuant to this section, a child or spouse attending a state post-secondary education or training institution is eligible for up to two thousand dollars per year in education benefits as provided in section two of this article.
(d) The division is charged with the duty of disbursing the funds herein provided and shall draw its requisitions upon the State Auditor for that purpose. In its discretion the division, if satisfied as to the accuracy and amounts of the expenditures, shall make the requisitions payable to the post-secondary education or training institutions or to those furnishing to the children or spouses board, room rent, books, supplies and other necessary living expenses.
(e) If a child or spouse receiving benefits or tuition waivers pursuant to this article withdraws from the institution, all allowances to the child shall cease.
(f) A member or employee of the division may not receive any additional compensation for the services herein required.
(g) Acceptance of benefits or tuition waivers pursuant to this article does not limit the acceptance of any other scholarship or grant for which a student may be eligible.
(h) Notwithstanding the provisions of this article to the contrary, until the first day of January, two thousand seven, benefits received pursuant to this article may be used for educational opportunities received at an education or training institution that is below the post-secondary level.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide that in addition to children, spouses of deceased service personnel are eligible for state-funded student financial aid resources.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.

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